Body-protector for base-ball players.



No. 690,!40. Patented Dec. 3|, I90l. J. GAMBLE.

BODY PROTECTOR FDR BASE BALL PLAYERS.

(Application filed Jun 29, 1901.\ (No Model.)

W/ NESSE //vv 0/? A TTOHNEY m: Mourns rzrzns co PnGTO-LITHO. WASHINGTON.mV 0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN GAMBLE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE A. REACH,OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BODY-PROTECTOR FOR BASE-BALL PLAYERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,140, dated December31, 1901.

Application filed June 29, 1901. Serial No. 66,452. (No model.)

To (oZZ ZU/LO'II'I/ it may concern: Be it known that I, JOHN GAMBLE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the countyof'Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Body-Protectors for Base-l3all Players; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as \villenable others skilled in the art towhichitappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to shields for protecting the body against a blowfrom a missile, and more particularly to shields for protecting the bodyof those engaged in the game of base-ball or similar games.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and effectiveshield that will operate to so distribute the force or impact of a blow,as from a ball, as to render it scarcely perceptible to the wearer; anda further object is to provide means whereby the tension of the shieldfor the purpose of flexing and regulating its capacity for resistingshocks can be adjusted.

Other objects and advantages resulting from the peculiar construction ofthe device will become apparent in the course of the followingdescription.

The invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of theseveral parts of the device hereinafter described,

illustrated in the drawings, and more particularly pointed out in theclaims hereunto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a front 0 elevation of the shield.Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a central verticalsection; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line m a Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 5 indicates a shield of anysuitable or desired shape, but preferably the shape shown in thedrawings, to readily conform to the shape of the body of the wearer. Inconstructing the shield I preferably provide two layers of suitablefabric stitched together at intervals, as

indicated by the numeral 2, to form pockets 3 for the reception of anysuitable packing material 4 and pockets 5 for the reception of flexibleribs 6, preferably semicircular in cross-section, as shown, increasingin length from the top rib to the one about central of the shield andthen diminishing toward the bottom. If desired, the two layers of fabricmay have interposed therebetween a packing' layer, the three beingstitched together, as above stated with reference to the two layers. Theupper portion of the shield is cut away, as indicated by the numeral 7,forming two tongues 8, to which are stitched or otherwise secured theends of a suitable strap 9 for the purpose of suspending the shield fromthe neck of the wearer.

The numeral 10 indicates a tab provided with pockets to receive packingand pockets for the reception of suitable stays. This tab depends fromthe main body of the shield, and the material enveloping its packing andstays may be apart of the fabric of the main body, or it may be stitchedto said material if so desired.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, it will be seen that there is provideda layer of soft packing material between the ribs and the inner layer offabric, so as to present a soft surface to the body of the wearer in theevent that the shield should not be sufficiently flexed to keep saidshieldout of contact with the body. The edge of the shield isprotectedby asuitable binding 12.

The numerals 11 11 indicate two flaps stitched or otherwise secu red tothe side edges of the shield, the combined width of which isconsiderably less than the width of the shield and are for a purposehereinafter stated. The adjacent edges of these flaps are pro- 0 videdwith eyelet-openings 13, through which are passed suitable lacings 14,which are for the purpose of drawing toward each other the adjacentedges of the flaps 11, and thereby flexing the ribs 6 to curve thesurface of the 93 shield, as shown in. Fig. 4, which tends not only todeflect the missile or ball, but to distribute the shock of the blow. Itwill be noticed that when the surface of the shield is flexed there willbe a space between the [00 flaps, which rest against the body of thewearer and the body of the shield, whereby the shield is held away fromthe body of the wearer and the impact from a blow on the surface of theshield is deadened. indicates a strap for holding said shield to thebody of the wearer.

It will be understood that I do not confine myself to the constructionherein set forth, as various modifications may be devised withoutdeparting from the spirit of my-invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A base-ball shield comprising a body port-ion, having transverseflexible stiffening means, and means secured to the side edges of saidbody portion whereby said shield may be transversely flexed to cushionor Ward off a blow.

2. A base-ball shield comprising a series of transversely-arrangedflexible ribs suitably held in position, means secured at the ends ofsaid ribs for tensioning the same, the said tensioning means adapted torest against the body of the wearer and cushion the shock or blowreceived on the face of the shield.

3. A base-ball shield comprising a plurality of transversely-arrangedflexible ribs suitably held together, a flap attached to each side edgeof said shield, and means for tensioning said flap and thereby the ribs,whereby a shock received on the face of the shield is cushioned.

4. A shield comprising a plurality of flexible transversely-arrangedribs suitably held together, flaps attached adjacent to the ends of saidribs, a lacing-stringjoining the flaps for the purpose of drawing thesame together and regulating the fiexure of the shield.

5. A shield of the character described comprising atransversely-flexible body, a tab at

